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REGNARD’S JOURNEY TO LAPLAND. 227
in a pofture, not the moft agreeable in the world; for not only did we run the rifk of
the cable breaking, but we were alfo afraid, left the cords that fupported us fhouid give
way, and left thofe of others, which would fall upon us, fhould break.
We defcended a hundred long toifes in this manner; and we at length found our-
felves in a place, very {pacious, and very deep, in the middle of which we found a chapel,
where mals was frequently faid; from whence we were conducted by roads without
end where they had removed the falt, which they break off in large pieces, which three
horfes can with difficulty draw. This ftone is of an afh-colour, and fparkles like
diamonds ; itis not hard, and the {mall pieces which fall off in cutting it, are put into
barrels, and are fold in that ftate. This ftone is infinitely falter than our excife falt,
and becomes white when it is piled up; but they make a falt of the water which they
draw from the deepeft places of the mine, which, after it hardens, becomes the
whiteft and the fineft, that can poflibly be feen. From this quarry, we defcended to
another, for there are feven of them, the one above the other, and when we were
near the laft, we found a rivulet of frefh water, the beft Lever drank. ‘This is one of
the greateft curiofities I ever beheld in my life, to fee a water iffluing from and running
over ftones of falt, without taking the tafte of it. There are alfo other rivulets found
here, but their waters are perfectly falt. After having defcended for two hours, we
arrived, at length, at the laft quarry, where the men were working: they cut for usa
ftone which fifty horfes would have been unable to draw; and a fingle man fevered
this ftone from the rock, with great eafe. When this piece has fallen, they cut it into
round pieces, the fhape of a barrel, that they may be able to roll it into the carriage.
We found in this pit a number of men and horfes, who wrought at wheels made for
the purpofe of raifing the water.
In this mine, falt is found of various prices, and veins, fome of which are better than
others. The fmalleft is called Ziclona, the next Zibicoa, and the beft of all Ockavata.
The firft kind is fold for twelve guldens the ton, which weighs fix hundred pounds,
the fecond thirteen, and the third fixteen. This laft is like cryftal, and equally tran{-
parent, and is divided into little fquares like ice.
We travelled near four hours in this mine; and we were aflured, that, fo great is its
extent, a perfon would be unable to go through every part of it in fifteen days. Along
the whole length of the vaults of this quarry, falt-water petrified may be obferved
hanging like icicles at a rain fpout ; and when it has become hard enough to be wrought,
the workmen make chaplets of it, and little utenfils of that kind.
We afcended by the fame ladder by which we defcended; and I was {till more un-
comfortable in going up than in coming down; for the rope that fupported me not being
fufficiently fixed to the cable, flid off from time to time, and caufed me great uneafi-
nefs; and without deceiving, I confefs, that I felt extremely difagreeable, and I pro-
mifed, that I fhould never revifit thefe fubterraneous regions. ‘To travel this journey
once in one’s life is perfectly fufficient.
We remained three or four days, after which, we fet out for Vienna. We pafled
through Zator-Ozvienzin, and other places belonging to Poland.
A JOURNEY TO GERMANY.
Tue firft city in Germany which one meets with in Silefia is and which is
dependant on a particular prince who is called Count Balthafar. We travelled from
thence to Olmutz, the feat of the bifhopric. The palace of the bifhop, who is both
-piritual and temporal prince, is as fine a one as can be {een in Germany. We obferved,
GG 2 that
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